Help for city leisure operators

The council received the money from Government and Sport England as part of its £100m National Leisure Recovery Fund. 

All the money the council receives will be shared out among eight different operators who run facilities across the city. 

Centres that will benefit include: City Baths, East End Pool, Elswick Pool, Gosforth Pool, Jesmond Pool, Kenton Park Sports Centre, Newburn Leisure Centre, Newcastle Eagles Arena, Newcastle Trampoline Park, Tyneside Badminton Centre, and West Denton Leisure Centre.  

Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and public health, Cllr Irim Ali, said: “We all know the leisure industry nationally has been severely affected by the pandemic. Operators have gone bust while others have had to close some facilities just to survive. 

“Sadly, not all facilities have been able to reopen in Newcastle, but the council understands the important contribution the sector makes to people’s physical and mental health which is why we are passing all of this money straight on to the operators. 

“Admittedly, there is a limit to what these amounts will achieve, but we will distribute it as fairly as possible and hope it helps compensate operators for some of their losses.  

“Having a vibrant leisure sector is one of those things that makes Newcastle a great city, so the council is lobbying hard for more financial support for the sector.” 

Operators will use the grants to offset costs and loss of income incurred during the current extended lockdown which started in December. 

The council is carrying out a strategic review of leisure provision across the city made more urgent by the pandemic.